Wendy Fritz strove to bring an upscale dining experience to Hunlock Creek when she transformed a longtime diner into O-Live Restaurant.

When the owners of Sheldon's Lunch decided it was time to move on, they offered the business to Fritz, a family friend. She was eager to create a new restaurant from the ground up, one that would offer local patrons an elegant and welcoming atmosphere. Instead of having to travel into town for a nice meal, patrons could go there, she said.

O-Live opened about four months ago. The building near the intersection of state routes 29 and 118 received a makeover, both inside and out, Fritz said. She changed the former black-and-white decor for a colorful, slightly rustic feel. Former church pews were converted to benches for tables along the walls. Extensive landscaping work caught the eyes of locals as soon as it was finished, Fritz said. The sign out front is a plastic panel painted to look like stained glass.

"We gave it a face-lift," she said.

The new look seems to be a hit so far, Fritz said. She started out slowly with dinner service, but added breakfast and lunch at customers' requests. Customers have come from all over the Wyoming Valley to check out the new restaurant.

The breakfast and lunch menus offer the basic favorites, like sandwiches and salads. The dinner menus are carefully crafted, and change to coincide with the seasons.

"We wanted to keep the nighttime special," she said.

Fritz cooks at night, preparing featured dishes that she and her family members collaborated to create. Her daughter, Melissa Smyda, is the pastry chef, and her sister, LeAnn Hoyt, is the sous chef. Ryan Post, breakfast and lunch chef, moonlights as the restaurant's Saturday night entertainment, playing acoustic guitar.

The fall menu features roasted winter squash with red onion tossed in a creamy parmesan risotto, and a pork chop stuffed with apple slices and fontina cheese.

Fritz, who is a self-taught chef and ran a small catering business, said she hopes the seasonal menu will keep things fresh for repeat customers. "We sit and brainstorm every two weeks on our main features."

kgaydos@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2118

Location: 5928 Main Road, Hunlock Creek

Contact: 570-477-1212, o-liverestaurant.com

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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